"W. Tbatees. — UtiUzafion of Phormium tenax, 117 



Tlie first question involves a matter of mere calculation. 



The machinery is of a very inexpensive character, and if worked by 

 water-power, the cost of working is reduced to the minimum. 



In order to prepare the ropes for passing through the rollers, we should 

 have to provide,—- 



1. For cutting the flax and tying it into bundles of, say, 112 lbs. each. 



2. For collecting these bundles together for carting. 



3. For the carting to the mill, 



4. For boiling the leaf. 



5. For plaiting or tmsting it when boiled, and for watching the further 



operations. 



I am of opinion, taking the p)resent value of labour and fuel into account, 

 that the fibre can be produced at the mill at a gross cost of from £9 to £10 

 per ton, in condition equal to that now before you. 



I will now proceed to make a few remarks upon the question whether 

 the fibre produced by the above process can be turned to profitable account. 

 In this question are involved both local and foreign demand. As regards 

 local demand, I know that some hundreds of tons of Phormium flax, in the 

 condition of the imported sample marked A now before you, are annually 

 used in this colony for stufiing mattresses, and other upholstering purposes. 

 I know, also, that flax in similar condition to that which I have prej)ared for 

 your inspection, has been long and largely used in neighbouring provinces in 

 the manufacture of rope and lines of various kinds, and that it commands a 

 ready sale for those purposes. 



From inquiries that I have made amongst upholsterers in Christchurch, 

 I find that the flax at present consumed by them in the manufacture of 

 mattresses, &c., costs them on an average £35 per ton, and that they 

 reckon not less than 5 per cent, as waste. From former inquiries in other 

 parts of the colony, I am led to believe that fibre in the condition of that 

 before you would be readily purchased at from £26 to £28 per ton for the 

 same purposes and for manufacture into rope and lines ; and I believe that 

 a still larger quantity would be used for these several purposes, if the raw 

 material could be regularly supplied at £25 per ton. 



I also believe that if a large and continiious supply, of a quality similar 

 to that now shown to you, were guaranteed to English manufacturers, it 

 would command from £25 to £28 per ton in England for rope-making pur- 

 poses alone ; for although the rope manufactured from it might not possess 

 the same excellent qualities, in all things, as that made from the fibre of the 

 European hemp, there can be no doubt of the applicability of the rope to 

 various useful purposes, for which its comparative cheapness would greatly 

 recommend it. 



